Starting Over Read Free Page B

days, but everyone was reeling
from the loss. Sharing their sadness with others who felt the same
way provided some comfort.
    “I can’t eat
anything,” Eve said when she realized Dan was filling her plate
with food. “Thank you though.” He was always lending his support
when she needed it and even when she didn’t. She knew he was trying
to help the only way he knew how.
    “You have to
try, Evie,” he said, sighing. “The next few days are going to be
brutal. You need to keep your strength up.”
    Eve watched her
husband work the room, talking to people he’d never met as though
he’d known them forever. The townspeople clearly thought she was a
lucky lady to have landed such a handsome, successful, charismatic
man. She’d once thought so too. She wasn’t so sure anymore.
    Following her
gaze, Dan narrowed his eyes at her husband. “He’s a piece of work,
isn’t he? That guy missed his calling. He should’ve gone into
politics.”
    It was no
secret Dan thought Alex was too slick to be trusted, but those who
knew Alex well knew that he was genuine. He sincerely liked and
cared about people. Except for me. Eve swallowed the lump in
her throat. He stopped caring about me a long time ago.
    Alex caught her
eye, smiling. When she didn’t return the gesture, he excused
himself from his conversation with the local police chief and made
his way toward her. “How are you holding up, Eve?” He cupped her
shoulder.
    It was the
first time he’d touched her in months, and she was both relieved
and mortified his casual caress affected her so deeply. A shudder
moved through her, and she knew he felt it when his full mouth
tipped up at the corners.
    He was still
the most gorgeous man she’d ever met, and he took her breath away
the same way he did when she’d first spotted him at a frat party.
She was dating one of his fraternity brothers, but he didn’t seem
to mind the competition. He made his interest in her known, and he
pursued her relentlessly until she finally agreed to go out with
him. She thought he was like every other guy she’d met—charming
until he got what he wanted—but she soon realized Alex was the real
deal. He’d always treated her as though he couldn’t live without
her… until recently. The only thing he couldn’t live without
anymore was the company that bore his last name.
    “Do you really
care how she’s doing?” Dan asked Alex.
    The tension
between the two men was swelling to dangerous levels, and Eve hoped
no one else noticed the exchange. In their small town, gossip
spread quickly, and she didn’t want people assuming she was the
point of contention in a love triangle.
    “Why don’t you
find something else to do?” Alex said, stepping closer. “I can take
care of my wife.”
    “Yeah, you’ve
been doing a great job so far.” Dan handed Eve the plate of food
she didn’t want. “Where were you when she really needed you? She’s
been going through hell watching her aunt slip away, and your only
concern was how you were going to make your next million. You make
me sick.”
    Eve subtly
positioned her body between the two men, hoping that would be
enough to diffuse the situation.
    “You don’t know
anything about my life,” Alex said between clenched teeth,
obviously trying to keep his voice down. “How dare you—”
    Eve set the
plate on the table. “Can we take a walk, Alex? I need a breath of
fresh air.”
    “Sounds like a
plan,” he said, grabbing her hand. They remained silent until they
got outside. Then Alex said, “I’m sorry about that. He just… gets
to me.”
    “He always
has.” Eve thought about the first time she’d brought Alex home to
meet her aunt. Dan was working for Sharon as a groundskeeper, and
he’d clearly despised Alex from the first time he set eyes on
him.
    “Because he has
a thing for you.” Releasing her hand, Alex shoved it in his pocket
instead. “But it’s more than that now, isn’t it?”
    She could have
sworn she heard a trace